Corker was slowly moving into the public eye... eventually becoming Tennessee's Commissioner of Finance.

"And, that's a huge, great job for a business person. You can have so much impact."

However, after a couple of years in Nashville, he returned to Chattanooga.

"About that time, people began talking to me about running for mayor."

And, in 2000, Corker was elected Chattanooga's 71st Mayor.

"I just loved everything about it!"

He and his administration accomplished a lot.

"We built this waterfront in 35 months from scratch with no drawings and no money. We did so much. And, we built Enterprise South where Volkswagen now resides."

But toward the end of his term, Corker got a call from then Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who was retiring.

"One of the things people have forgotten, I ran for the Senate back in 1994."

He lost to Frist in the Republican primary. But they went on to become great friends. And, he convinced Corker to run for his Senate seat.

That 2006 Senate Race got national attention. Corker defeated Harold Ford, Jr. with 51% of the vote and went to Washington.

"We had unfortunately a financial crisis in the country. My business background allowed me to be involved in a way that I wouldn't have been as a freshman Senator."

However, the last 2 years of his first term were very frustrating.

"There was so much gridlock. Nothing was happening."

But now, 4 months into his second term, the junior Senator is much more optimistic

"I have a feeling over the next short period of time, there's going to be some constructive actions in Washington, solving some of the major problems we have."

And, if a round of golf with the president is any indication, Corker seems to be right on par. While the Senator enjoys the greens, he treasures his weekends with his wife in downtown Chattanooga.

"She thought she was marrying a business guy, and she was very happy about that."

Still, it's worked out well for them, married now 26 years.

"On the weekends, we're not talking about public policy. You know, we're talking about other kinds of things. I feel like I'm a pretty blessed person."

Recently, Senator Corker was awarded the Center for the Study of the
Presidency and Congress "Publius Award" for Bipartisan Leadership in
Congress. It's an honor he share with fellow East Tennessean Howard
Baker, Junior.

Senator Bob Corker.

"I'm proud of our state. East Tennessee is home and it always will be."